Austin is a FUN city, especially for live music enthusiasts (think Austin City Limits and South by Southwest music festival). Spectacular natural elements provide the perfect background to a vibrant and hip city, capturing our interest and awe instantly.

As we drove from Houston into Austin, I couldn’t help but let out a few “oh, wows,” as I marveled at the area’s landscape: green hills and canyons, and the Colorado River running through the heart of the city.

We arrived at Sunset RV Resort coincidentally at sunset. The park was definitely a much needed several steps above our previous stay and we settled quickly for the night underneath a massive oak. In the morning, we met our new neighbors: longhorns. They seemed a little intimidating, especially when staring straight at us, but we got into their good graces by feeding them carrots.

In the evening, we hit the town in search for live music and the city didn’t disappoint. The Continental Club on Congress had standing room only. We grabbed our drinks and found our way to a small room behind the stage, where we shared an impromptu dance floor with a few strangers. The band had been performing for forty years and we had the pleasure of meeting one of its main members.

For a late night après show snack, we indulged in a local pizza in the cozy and modern Home Slice Pizza, just a few steps from the club. I loved their slogan “In Crust We Trust.”

Downtown Austin offered a thriving and vivacious city with a youthful energy in the midst of a natural setting. We parked our car under the bridge and walked across the street through the Austin Nature and Science Center, learning about the 40 types of trees native to the area and about the famed bats known to adorn the bridge in large numbers–in fact, the city hosts North America’s Largest Urban Bat Population. We walked along the river and across the bridge to one of the benches where we took a sunny break, watching people kayak on Lady Bird Lake down below.

Back at the camp, we relaxed with a good meal.

And speaking of a good meal… The next evening, we met David’s friend David for some Tex-Mex at Matt’s El Rancho. The place was full to the gills but worth the wait. We had a good dinner and engaging conversation.

The next day, we set to explore a bit more of the hill country. The Colorado River passing through Austin has nothing to do with THE Colorado River out west. A dam collects one of the biggest lakes in the area, Lake Travis, which serves a practical purpose of flood control, while providing a plethora of fun summer activities for visitors.

Another short drive took us to a perfect vista of the city, hills, and river. Mt. Bonnell (also known as Covert Park) has been a popular destination since the mid-1800s and is a great spot to witness spectacular sunsets over the city.

Back roads took us through the quiet hill country and we stopped to check out the cute little town of Wimberley before returning to our campsite.

We thoroughly enjoyed the variety of scenery and activities in the area. Next on the agenda: a stop in Waco, home of the lovely TV stars Joanna and Chip Gaines.